Age-related Changes in Training Stimuli and Performance in Masters Swimmers

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 835-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Lapierre ◽  
Brett Baker ◽  
Hirofumi Tanaka

AbstractAge-related decreases in performance are thought to be driven by decreases in exercise training stimuli. We determined the influence of changes in training stimuli with advancing age on swimming performance using cross-sectional and longitudinal data analyses. Totals of 692 and 98 competitive swimmers belonging to the US Masters Swimming Association were analyzed in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Swimming times increased with advancing age, and age was the strongest predictor of swimming performance, followed by training volume, in both the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. In the cross-sectional data analyses, an increase in training volume by 10 km/month, was associated with improved performance by 0.69 s regardless of age. In the longitudinal analyses, training volume was not a significant predictor for younger swimmers. In middle-aged swimmers, however, increases in training volume resulted in faster swimming times, and its effect was more pronounced in older swimmers. We concluded that there was a graded positive relationship between yearly increases in training volume and improved swimming performance, and that such effects were greater with advancing age.

Author(s):  
William D. Hopkins ◽  
Mary C. Mareno ◽  
Sarah J. Neal Webb ◽  
Steven J. Schapiro ◽  
Mary A. Raghanti ◽  
...  

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 984
Author(s):  
Galya Bigman

Smell and taste decline with aging, and markedly deteriorate when nutritional deficiencies occur. This study aims to examine the associations between Vitamin D (VD) deficiency and smell and taste impairments among adults. This paper details a cross-sectional study utilizing data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2013–2014.). Smell impairment was assessed by the Pocket Smell Test and defined as failing to correctly identify six or more of the eight odors. Taste impairment was defined as failing to correctly identify quinine or sodium chloride. VD was measured as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin. Multivariable weighted logistic regressions were utilized. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were presented. Overall, 2216 (smell sample) and 2636 (taste sample) participants were included, aged between 40 and 80 years old. Of those, 18.3% had taste impairment, 12.2% had smell impairment, and 20% had VD deficiency (<20 ng/mL). Compared to participants with sufficient VD (>30 ng/mL), those with VD deficiency were more likely by 39% to report a higher prevalence of smell impairment (OR = 1.39, 95%CI: 1.02–1.89); and only participants aged 70–80 years with VD inadequacy (20–30 ng/mL) were more likely by 96% to report a higher prevalence of taste impairment (OR = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.35–1.85). VD may have a significant role in age-related smell impairment in adults aged 40 years or older, and in age-related taste impairment in the elderly aged 70–80 years.


2010 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denitza Pavlova ◽  
Rianne Pinxten ◽  
Marcel Eens

AbstractIn contrast to male bird song, female song complexity, learning and expression have received much less attention. Female European starlings can produce song of a comparable complexity as males and are also capable of adult vocal learning. Here we recorded song during 3 successive years and investigated variation in song traits (song complexity, song duration and song versatility) in relation to age in captive adult female starlings. We looked at whether individual song traits differ among different age classes (cross-sectional analyses) and whether they change over successive years (longitudinal analyses). Further we studied the repertoire turnover throughout the years, female song sharing in the first year of recording and whether different song traits consistently vary among females across the years. Overall, both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses showed that repertoire size significantly declined with female age, suggesting that some constraints exist in adult females to maintain large repertoires. Song duration and song versatility appeared to be unrelated to age. Female starlings intensely modified their repertoire across the years by adding new/deleting old phrase types, suggesting a high plasticity as reported in males. Females showed a high variation (between 14% and 83%) in sharing their repertoire, with older females having higher song sharing rates. The individual differences in song complexity and performance were repeatable across the years, which may suggest that song in female starlings is a potential quality indicator trait.


2005 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 261-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Analiza M. Silva ◽  
Jack Wang ◽  
Richard N. Pierson ◽  
ZiMian Wang ◽  
Steven B. Heymsfield ◽  
...  

Aging is associated with the onset of chronic diseases that lead to pathological expansion of the extracellular water (ECW) compartment. Healthy aging, in the absence of disease, is also reportedly accompanied by a relative expansion of the ECW compartment, although the studies on which this observation is based are few in number, applied different ECW measurement methods, included small ethnically homogeneous subject samples, and failed to adjust ECW for non-age-related influencing factors. The aim of the current study was to examine, in a large ( n = 1,538) ethnically diverse [African American (AA), Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic] subject group the cross-sectional relationships between ECW and age after controlling first for other potential factors that may influence fluid distribution. ECW and intracellular water (ICW) were derived from measured total body water (isotope dilution) and potassium (40K whole body counting). The cross-sectional relationships between ECW, ICW, and ECW/ICW (E/I), and age were developed using multiple regression modelling methods. Body weight, weight squared, height, age, sex, race, and interactions were all significant ECW predictors. The slope of the observed race × age interaction was significantly greater in AA (β = 0.0005, P = 0.005) than in the three other race groups. Race, sex, and age differences in fluid distribution persisted after adjusting for body composition in a subgroup ( n = 994) with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry lean soft tissue and fat measurements. A relative ECW expansion (i.e., E/I) was present with greater age in most sex-race groups, although the effect was not significantly larger in AA males ( P > 0.05) compared with the other race groups, except Asians ( P < 0.05). For females, a larger E/I-age effect was found in AA compared with the other race groups, but only the comparison against Hispanics was significant ( P < 0.05). The ECW compartment and E/I are thus variably larger, according to race, in healthy older subjects independent of sex, lean soft tissue, and fat mass.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Edward Buhasho ◽  
Agnes Wausi ◽  
James Njihia

Whereas Business Intelligence initiative has been a primary focus many organisations globally for several years and accounting for billions of dollars in capital expenditure, empirical research remains sparse on the actual impact derived from this investment. Even when the benefits are established, its indirect and delayed impact on business results make it difficult to assess its value. Available literature on how insights triggered by Business Intelligence are transformed into profitable business learning is vague and fragmented. Hence, the main objective of this study was to establish the influence of complementary resources on the relationship between Business Intelligence capability and firm performance. The study used interdisciplinary theories to achieve the research objective, namely, Information systems capability theory and organisational learning. The study was performed using a mixed methods research methodology and cross-sectional approach. Data was collected from 64 public listed companies in Kenya. Findings indicated that complementary resources have a positive and significant impact on the relationship between Business Intelligence capability and performance. The study contributed to theory by building a framework for business intelligence assessment, including factors that significantly lead to improved performance. The results also provide new insights into the existing literature and suggest directions for future research with implications for academia, policymakers and management.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Ross ◽  
Nicholas Moffatt

IntroductionBehavioural interviews are a critical component of the job application process for ambulance services in Australia. They involve role specific open-ended questions that are designed to test an applicant’s skills, eligibility and experience. It is a process that is standardised and can be practised to increase familiarity and performance. Existing literature supports the benefits of practice interviews ahead of real interviews to improve applicant performance and subsequent employment success. The objective of this study was therefore to examine paramedic graduates’ perceptions on the value of participating in practice interviews before seeking employment with an ambulance service.MethodsStudents enrolled in the Bachelor of Emergency Health (Paramedic) at Monash University in Victoria took part in a cross-sectional pilot study. Three paper-based surveys were created to assess the value of practice interviews. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used.ResultsFourteen (n=14) students participated. All participants agreed or strongly agreed that practice interviews would help them gain employment. All participants perceived that practice interview helped improve their confidence and preparation for their actual interview.ConclusionPractice interviews were found to be a positive and worthwhile undertaking. They increased confidence and improved preparation through practise and feedback. Participants agreed that they were valuable and perceived that they led to improved performance in their real interviews and subsequent employment success.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateus H. Gouveia ◽  
Amy R. Bentley ◽  
Hampton Leonard ◽  
Karlijn A. C. Meeks ◽  
Kenneth Ekoru ◽  
...  

AbstractGenome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified thousands of genetic loci associated with cross-sectional blood pressure (BP) traits; however, GWAS based on longitudinal BP have been underexplored. We performed ethnic-specific and trans-ethnic GWAS meta-analysis using longitudinal and cross-sectional BP data of 33,720 individuals from five cohorts in the US and one in Brazil. In addition to identifying several known loci, we identified thirteen novel loci with nine based on longitudinal and four on cross-sectional BP traits. Most of the novel loci were ethnic- or study-specific, with the majority identified in African Americans (AA). Four of these discoveries showed additional evidence of association in independent datasets, including an intergenic variant (rs4060030, p = 7.3 × 10–9) with reported regulatory function. We observed a high correlation between the meta-analysis results for baseline and longitudinal average BP (rho = 0.48). BP trajectory results were more correlated with those of average BP (rho = 0.35) than baseline BP(rho = 0.18). Heritability estimates trended higher for longitudinal traits than for cross-sectional traits, providing evidence for different genetic architectures. Furthermore, the longitudinal data identified up to 20% more BP known associations than did cross-sectional data. Our analyses of longitudinal BP data in diverse ethnic groups identified novel BP loci associated with BP trajectory, indicating a need for further longitudinal GWAS on BP and other age-related traits.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (31) ◽  
pp. 240
Author(s):  
Machuki, V.N. ◽  
Rasowo, J.O.

Corporate governance is concerned with the running of an organization in a way that guarantees that its owners or stockholders receive a fair return on their investments while the expectations of other stakeholders are also met. The study sought to examine the relationship between corporate governance practices and performance of sugar producing companies in Kenya. The study intended to establish the corporate governance practices adopted by the companies and the influence of these practices on their performance. Through a cross-sectional survey of 11 companies, data were gathered using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicate that all the studied companies practice some form of corporate governance although the degree of adoption differ across them. The study also revealed that board decisions are not influenced by founder members and that it was not common for board members to engage in financial transactions with the companies. The results of regression analysis show that overall, there is a positive and statistically significant influence of corporate governance practices on performance of the sugar producing companies. The study draws a conclusion that a combination of good corporate governance practices is responsible for a large percentage of good performance achieved by the sugar companies. Individual corporate governance practices acting on their own do not always lead to improved performance. The study offers support for theories that anchor performance implications of good corporate governance as well as findings of previous similar studies. Based on the findings of the study, recommendation for policy and practice are made as well as suggestions for further research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 151-159
Author(s):  
King Fuei Lee

In this paper, we investigate the presence of the Halloween effect in the long-term reversal anomaly in the US. When we examine the cross-sectional returns of winner-minus-loser portfolios formed on prior returns over the time period of 1931-2021, we find evidence of stronger returns during winter months versus summer months. In particular, the effect appears to be driven by very strong winter-summer seasonality in the portfolio of small-capitalisation losers, and lack of Halloween effect in the portfolio of large-capitalisation winners. Our finding is robust to alternative measures of long-term reversal, differing sub-periods, the inclusion of the January effect and outlier considerations, as well as within small and large-sized companies.        


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